Leeds LGBT Pride 2017: your ultimate guide

Have the Pride of your life with our rainbow guide to the Leeds LGBT Pride 2017…

Welcome to our shiny new guide to Leeds LGBT Pride 2017. From the 2017 parade route and this year’s best build up events and after-parties to the latest Leeds LGBT Pride pop-ups and Fringe events, here’s everything you need to know about Leeds’ biggest and best LGBT celebration. Happy Pride!

Wait, what actually is Pride?

In Leeds, ‘Pride’ generally refers to the Leeds LGBT Pride parade and stage performances, which takes place over the first weekend in Augustthis annually. There are lots of Pride events happening across Yorkshire as well as LGBT pride parades in other cities in the UK and all over the world, they are all a huge celebration of LGBT identities, history, and achievements, as well as a chance to highlight the sexual injustices that still occur against the LGBT communities across the world. Leeds LGBT Pride features many fringe events over weeks prior to the main event on

Leeds LGBT Pride 2017 features many fringe events over weeks prior to the main event on Sunday 6th August 2017.

How long have Pride events been running?

The first ever Pride took place in New York in 1969. In the UK London got involved two years later when a group of around 200 activists from the UK branch of the Gay Liberation Front marched on central London – though not before a dozen drag queens had staged a ‘dress rehearsal’ the day before, pursued by police. The first official London Pride was held in 1972, with 2,000 people in attendance. In Yorkshire, the first official Pride was Wakefield Pride not Prejudice back in 2005 with Leeds LGBT Pride being held a year later in 2006. In Leeds LGBT Pride’s tenth year (2016) it had over 40,000 people in attendance.

Is Pride just for LGBT people?

Not at all. Pride is a celebration of the LGBT community for everyone. If you want to support friends, family members and colleagues who identify as LGBT, feel free to come along. The area in and around #gayleeds (Lower Briggate) and Millenium Square will be packed with people and general merriment from around midday.

What is happening at Millenium Square during Leeds LGBT Pride 2017?

On Sunday 6th August 2017 from 12 noon at Millenium Square there will be two full hours of FREE live entertainment, guest speakers and cabaret on the Sainsbury’s Millenium Square Stage. It is also a chance to meet up with like minded individuals prior to the BIG Leeds LGBT Pride parade.

What happens on the BIG Leeds LGBT Pride parade?

The parade will begin at around 2 pm from Millennium Square once the Sainsbury’s Millennium Square Stage acts and speakers have finished. The parade will include floats from national and local organisations, business’, social groups, marching bands and charities, it will, of course, be followed by the walking section open to all members of the public.

This year’s Leeds LGBT Pride (2017) sees a new parade route introduced, it will leave Millennium Square before going past The Light (Retail and Leisure Complex), it will then go down The Headrow, past the new Victoria Gate (Shopping Centre) and Leeds Kirkgate Market and finally down towards The First Direct Main Stage in #gayleeds (Lower Briggate).

What happens at the First Direct Main Stage in #gayleeds?

At around 2.30 pm once the parade has begun to arrive the live headlining entertainment will kick off on the First Direct Main stage which is located in #gayleeds (Lower Briggate) near the famous rainbow painted Leeds Freedom Bridge. There will be Pride street bars, marketplace stalls, a children’s area and funfair rides located in and around the First Direct Main Stage area. All this in the heart of Leeds LGBT Scene and within close proximity to the City LGBT Venues.

Let’s get trending with Pride, we’ll hashtag to that!

The official Leeds LGBT Pride 2017 hashtag is #LeedsPride, but you could also use #gayleeds.